Wroclaw, Poland, July 3, 2009 - In front of a full house
at Centennial Hall in Wroclaw, hosts Poland showed great determination in
gaining their first home win at the 2009 FIVB World League on Friday, crushing
Venezuela 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-20).

Polands Bartosz Kurek was named MVP of the match, which
was the third win in three meetings for Poland over the South Americans at the
tournament.

Poland's Jakub Jarosz led all scorers with 16 points,
while Luis Diaz had 13 for Venezuela.

The score stayed close in the beginning and after a good
spike from Jarosz, Poland led at the first technical timeout 8-6. Some great
plays from the middle and powerful, well-placed serves from Kurek saw the home
team extend their lead to five points (14-9).

Venezuelan coach Jose A. Gutierrez brought in Rodman
Valera, but it didn't change anything. Poland led 16-10 at the second technical
timeout and after the break, the difference increased to 9 points (19-10). The
Poles gave no opportunities to their rivals and after Valera served out, the
hosts clinched the first set 25-15.

Poland started the second set highly motivated and
quickly opened up a five-point advantage (7-2). The visitors stormed back and
after Ivan Marquez blocked Kurek, they drew level at 11-11. A powerful serve
from Jarosz and a killing spike from Kurek gave Poland the lead. The Poles
reached the second technical timeout leading by two points (16-14). Although
Venezuela never gave up, it could not stop Poland. A left-side kill by Polish
captain Michal Bakiewicz ended the set. The hosts won it 25-22.

In the third set, Polish coach Daniel Castellani made a
change in the lineup and replaced Bakiewicz with Michal Ruciak. The teams were
evenly matched until the Venezuelans won three points in a row. After a
well-placed serve from Juan Carlos Blanco the visitors led at the first
technical timeout 8-6.

Effective blocking from Marcin Mozdzonek and a simple
mistake by the Venezuelans let Poland equalize. The hosts shifted into higher
gear and reached the second technical timeout leading by three points (16-13).

The South Americans appeared a bit broken mentally.
Castellani brought in Karol Klos and in his very first match for the senior
squad, the young middle-blocker showed great skill in blocking and spiking. A
Jarosz spike from the right wing gave Poland the third set 25-20, and the match
3-0.